Normally I'm all in favor of direct flyovers -- but cobbling one out of what is essentially a left-turn lane looks like a recipe for disaster -- LH exits invite lane-weaving prior to the exit/turnoff itself; in a commercial zone like the one seen here, it's a recipe for perpetual fender-benders. Of the two options, the RH-exit loop is likely to provide fewer such problems -- although it looks like a mighty tight loop to be part of US 62 continuity -- might cause backup onto the 62 overpass as traffic slows to negotiate the loop itself.

Ideally, US 62 should be realigned off the commercial stretch and intersect I-49 north of the present interchange, improvements to which are limited by available space. But that may be a "roadway too far" for ARDOT's current fiscal situation.

The loop makes more sense as long as they provide for a LONG acceleration lane!

As if there is room.

From the diagram shown on the overlay picture of the loop option, it looks like both directions of I-49 are being shifted a bit to the west, with likely a relatively narrow (K-rail?) median. If that's the case a more typical NB acceleration lane (not particularly long, but not short either) would likely be included within the plans. Question: is the EB 62 loop planned for one or two lanes -- and does ARDOT employ ramp metering? While possibly resulting in additional backups on EB 62 approaching the interchange, metering may help to sort out merging issues, particularly if the loop contains 2 lanes (at least up until just prior to the merge). Obviously, if the loop is 2 lanes, that would imply that there would be a right lane on EB 62 dedicated solely to the loop, which may ameliorate any congestion in that direction.

More detailed plans, if presently available, would certainly help in the analysis of the options -- although, as previously stated, the flyover -- as shown -- would be problematic. Now if they were able to reconfigure it as a right-side exit rather than left, that would be another matter altogether (but that's probably a non-starter because of the roadside businesses).